People and Culture Senior Generalist

Description

Our Mission: Since 1981, the Orangewood Foundation has passionately advocated for young people facing foster care, homelessness, and trafficking. Our mission is to empower these individuals by supporting the futures they envision, providing dedicated one-on-one support to help them achieve their dreams and goals.

Our Programs & Services: We provide programs and services in four essential areas: Basic Needs & Support, Education, Life Skills & Employment, and Transitional Housing & Support.

Our Vision: A community where every young person thrives. This is our long-term goal for young people in Orange County. We embody this goal every time we talk to a young person, a volunteer, a community member, and to each other. 

Our Commitment: Equal Opportunity Employer, Flexible Scheduling, Powerful Teamwork, Personal Fulfillment, Thriving Community, Professional Development, Mental & Physical Wellness, Competitive Compensation

Our Values: At Orangewood, recently ranked #27 in Best Places to Work 2025, we take pride in fostering a positive and supportive workplace culture. We ask all staff to uphold the following core values: Trust, Respect, Empathy, Inclusion, and Advocacy

Position Title: People & Culture Senior Generalist

Employment Classification: Full-Time; Hourly; Non-Exempt

Reports to: People & Culture Partner

Department: People & Culture 

Employee Engagement/Relations:

• Collaborate with P&C leadership to align employee relations initiatives with organizational goals, culture, and values
• Coach leaders on proactive employee engagement and team development practices
• Provide guidance and support to managers and team members on conflict resolution, discipline, performance issues, and policy interpretation
• Participate in complex and sensitive employee relations investigations, ensuring fairness, consistency, and legal compliance
• Analyze trends in employee relations data and recommend proactive solutions
• Serve as a thought partner for continuous improvement in employee engagement and retention strategies

Recruitment; On-boarding/Off-boarding Process:

• Conduct new employee People & Culture orientations and participate in the full onboarding experience.
• Facilitate the off-boarding process including creating all paperwork, final checks, and conducting exit interviews.

Payroll Processing:

• Accurately process the Orangewood Foundation, Samueli Academy, and Youth Connected Program semi-monthly payrolls as scheduled.
• Maintain comprehensive notes throughout the pay period to document items that impact payroll.
• Review timecards for completion and accuracy, make payroll changes, make payroll benefit deduction updates, and complete all payroll checklist steps and reports.
• Provide the payroll check register for review and approval and submit the payroll before deadline.

Employee Benefits:

• Participate in the coordination of the open-enrollment process, assist employees with benefit enrollments, new hire enrollments, and qualifying life events.
• Assist with leave of absence coordination and work with the COBRA & FSA vendor.
• Assist with annual benefit reporting requirements.
• Review, approve, and send new hire enrollments to payroll.
• Receive and review the carriers’ file feed reports weekly and follow up with the carriers as needed.

Compliance:

• Ensure consistent application of company policies and practices across locations and departments
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, local, and contract requirements
• Maintain employee records to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Pull reports and documents requested by all auditors throughout the year.
• Attend audits meetings when requested.
• Additional projects and tasks as assigned by People & Culture leadership.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skill, and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred. Some college required.
• Minimum five years’ experience in a human resources generalist role.
• Minimum two years’ experience managing employee relations issues, and investigations.
• Minimum two years’ payroll processing experience required. Paylocity experience a plus.
• Ability to handle confidential matters and information.
• Demonstrated experience maintaining, troubleshooting, and optimizing HRIS systems.
• Strong administrative, organization skills, and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; comfortable presenting oneself at staff meetings.
• Demonstrated experience in handling multiple assignments and meeting tight deadlines.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications: outlook, word, excel, power point, and teams
• Possess a valid California driver’s license and proof of automobile insurance. Position requires DMV clearance.
• Pre-employment screenings include criminal background checks, FBI/DOJ fingerprinting, TB test, drug screen, and previous employment verification. 
• A Plum.io assessment is a required part of the application process, and your application will not be considered complete until the assessment is submitted. Visit this link to learn more: https://www.plum.io/about 

Essential Qualities:

• Understanding of and passion for the Foundation’s mission, vision, and values.

Working Environment/Physical Requirements:

• Primarily an in-office position with 1-2 days’ work from home after first 90 days.
• Flexibility to work nights/weekends occasionally to support housing staff.
• Position may require use of personal vehicle. Physical requirements include standing, sitting, typing, bending and lifting up to approximately 15 lbs. (i.e. tables, chairs, food, water, etc.). 
• Modification to work schedule may be made based on needs of the Foundation.

Benefits:

• Medical – Blue Shield HMO & PPO + HRA 
• Delta Dental 
• Vision (EyeMed Network) 
• FSA – Healthcare & Dependent Care
• Mental Health through Headspace (virtual & in person therapy included) 
• EAP – through Umum & Headspace 
• Life/Disability/Accident/Critical Illness 
• Pet Insurance 
• 403b with company match 
• Cell Phone Stipend

Time-off Benefits:

• 5 Sick Days per year 
• Up to 3 Floating Holidays per year 
• Year one - 15 Days of PTO accrued at 5 hours per pay period 
• 13 Company Paid Holidays 

Orangewood Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race (including hair texture and protective hair styles such as braids, locks, and twists), religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and/or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity (including individuals who are transgender and/or transitioning), gender expression, age, sexual orientation, reproductive health decision-making, military and veteran status, or any other protected group, in accordance with all applicable federal or State laws.